Villains in literature we love!
For the first time in four years I now live in an apartment with cable. I spent a solid hour perusing the channels and came across some kind of Tori Spelling related documentary. I am fascinated with rich people and thus left it on while the cat stared at me like, “Dude, really?”
I explained to the cat that Murakami, for example, tells this story about the first time he decided he would write a book. He was watching television and he said to himself out loud, “I think I could write a book.”
So I’m watching this thing and Aaron Spelling was talking about some late night soap opera and he said and I quote, “Villains get the best lines.” This got me thinking. Are villains cooler than the good guys?
As I often talk about with anyone who will listen my quintessential good guy character is a kid named Angus Bethune who was first featured in a short story by American Author Chris Crutcher which was later made into my favorite movie of all time called “Angus.” Green Day is on the soundtrack by the way. Read and see “Angus.” Best good guy. Probably the character I have related to the most in my entire life in literature. Conversely, the only example I have because it occurs to me I like bad guys in writing.
Let’s take Scarlet O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind” for example. What a sociopathic spoiled girl she was. Beautiful, cold, self-centered.
Let’s take Satan in Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Tell me that not bowing down speech wasn’t tops and I’ll call you a liar.
Who are some villains you love and why?